Staff Correspondent

Food Minister Afroza Khanam MP today paid a surprise inspection visit to the Central Storage Depot (CSD) in Tejgaon, Dhaka, to review the quality of stored rice and flour, overall stock levels, and distribution operations.

Arriving at the facility at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, the Minister randomly inspected 10 out of the 35 operational godowns at the depot. She examined the quality of foodgrains, cross-checked stock registers with warehouse keepers to determine storage duration, and reviewed daily distribution logistics.

During the inspection, officials informed the Minister that the Tejgaon CSD comprises 43 godowns in total, with four currently holding relief goods for the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief. The remaining 35 active godowns currently store approximately 37,000 metric tons of foodgrains. Observing that several storage units were dilapidated, the Minister directed immediate repairs to make them operational, offering to intervene personally if required to expedite the restoration.

Addressing staff shortages and operational constraints raised by CSD officials, Afroza Khanam assured that grievances would be resolved systematically, noting that matters involving financial allocations would be raised directly with the Ministry of Finance.

Issuing a stern warning against negligence and irregularities, the Food Minister stated that surprise inspections would continue without prior notice. 

Food Secretary Abu Taher Md. Masud Rana and Director General of the Directorate General of Food Md. Jashim Uddin Khan accompanied the Minister during the inspection.